Ootoya to Raise Set Meal Prices by Up to 70 Yen

Tokyo, April 19 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Ootoya Holdings Co. <2705> has said it will raise the prices of "teishoku" set meals by 10 to 70 yen, effective from Tuesday, due to higher labor and food costs.

The restaurant chain operator will reduce the number of set meals to 27 from 38 in a revision of its menu. The prices will rise for 12 of the 27 set meals, Ootoya said Thursday.

Following the revision, the menu will have more dishes rich with vegetables as Ootoya hopes to increase its appeal to health-conscious consumers.

On Thursday, President Kenichi Kubota met the press for the first time since it emerged in February that inappropriate video content had been posted online by workers. He apologized and promised to take preventive steps.